Feeling all warm and velvety inside

THIS makes me so so happy...

Why can't all revolutions be as peaceful as The Velvet?

Vaclav Havel jamming on drums? Sounds like a party to me!

Probably the most brilliant line of foreign policy ever:
“We Czechs and Slovaks have a tradition of dealing with various issues in the pub rather than on the battlefield.”

You know I'll drink some sparkling cider to that!

photo via NYT

Prague dazzles again!

MICHELLE was at the Pinkas Synagogue (Pinkasova Sinagoga) in Prague yesterday.
Are we meant to be friends or what.

Political persuasions aside, let's be glad we have a President who doesn't mistake the Czech Republic for "Chechnya" (as W did... and that Simon not so fondly remembers.)

(Courtesy MSNBC)

And I nearly started bawling my eyes out at the exhibit of children's drawings at the Pinkas Synagogue (no photos allowed, or I would have posted below), and it was one of her most memorable parts of the Old Jewish Quarter.


Here's me there in January. Pretty sure my face was frozen.

The cemetery with the stacked tombstones. I'm getting better at my solemn face.


Geez, world, why can't we all just get along?

Coming from a community back home where nearly 40% of my high school was Jewish (a good portion of my younger years was spent believing the world was half Jewish/half Christian), it goes without saying I take an interest in their culture with deep love and respect...and Bar Mitzvah's are pretty fun too.

But in all seriousness, next to Sachsenhaussen concentration camp, the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, Gerda Weissman Klein giving an address at my high school, or David Faber at my middle school, the Pinkasova Sinagoga (with the dedicatory museum and cemetery) was another great Jewish experience......and I'm so glad Michelle liked it too!

(I only wish my bubbala had been there with me)

At Sachsenhaussen CC, Germany- April '08
Arbeit Macht Frei- "Work will set you free"

As I will tritely, yet succinctly, reiterate...love Prague. love Jews. love Michelle.

Prague: Addendum

I forgot to mention Simon, my cousin's college friend who is from Prague and was still there on Christmas Break when the four of us were there for the journalism conference...

he showed us all around the city and Prague Castle the second night we were there, and I felt silly taking pictures of him in his hometown, so I discreetly (hah) snapped the following:

He knows Czech, French, German, and perfect English, rows and is 6'3"...any takers?!
(we all had little crushes on him).

And funny thing, I saw Simon again when I went to....



Boston last month to visit sister and cousin!

Silly hats waiting for the T

Sunday Brunch

Love my little 6'3" ginga sista!

Today I'm missing...

Prague

The most gorgeous city in the world, blanketed in snow.

But more importantly, the following ladies who made it fun, despite the fact it was the coldest week of the year.

(Emiley, Emily, Kristine, Me)

Emiley and Kristine work elsewhere, and Emily and I have a class together so we see each other about every other day (when we're not trading off going to it, which we're really good at!)

Emiley, Emily, Me, and Hassna'a- queen of Saudi Arabian media...seriously, she's so awesome.

Canadian Katie, Me, Norwegian Christina, Kristine



Me, Emily, and Dina from Kyrgystan- we Facebook message each other about every other week, and I love our little chats! Technology is awesome!

I miss all of you!